TechCrunch recently hosted its Boston Pitchoff, giving eight startup finalists a chance to pitch their businesses in front of a panel of VCs and tech journalists. Clique Chic - a website that gives members access to designer clothes and a personal stylist - won the competition and will advance to the final Disrupt NY competition later this spring.

The competition boasted healthcare wearables, social networking apps, gamified education tools, and even a foray into personalized medicine. Amidst this heavy competition, Clique Chic demonstrated that it's the business model - not the buildup - that makes a startup successful.

To learn more about the featured startups and to see what strategies set Clique Chic apart, check out our piece on Forbes.​This post was written by David Farber. To learn more about how New Markets Advisors helps companies enter new markets, click here.